Trunk-fastener.



PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

- T. W. MADDUX. TRUNK FASTENER. APPLICATION FILED MAR'11.1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 IX i m use:

.No. 892,533. PATENTED JULY v, 908.

T. W. MADDUX.

TRUNK FASTENER. APPLIOATIOH FILED MAR. 11. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Z'TC' Q in eoaea THOMAS W. MADDUX, OF NORMAL, ALABAMA.

TRUNK-FASTENER.

Application filed March 11, 1907.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '7, 1908.

Serial No. 361,861.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. MADDUx, citizen of the United States, residing at Normal, in the county of Madison and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in fasteners for trunks, boxes, and similar receptacles, and the invention has for its object a simple, durable and efficient construction of trunk or box strap or fastener, embodying a bottom section and top section, each of which includes'diverging straps, sundry of which carry buckles and are arranged for adjustable connection with the coacting ends of other straps, so that the trunk or box may be very quickly and securely fastened by being placed upon the bottom section in spread out condition, and the ends of such bottom section quickly secured to the complemental ends of the top section.

With this and other objects in view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts which I shall now hereinafter fully describe and particularly point out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved trunk or box fastener illustrating its application to a trunk, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom section of the'fastener in its spread out condition; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the top section; and, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the protectors hereinafter specifically described.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

My improved strap or fastener embodies a bottom section A, and a top section B, each of which consists of a series of diverging straps.

The bottom section A comprises a pair of rectangular links 1, 1, through which the ends of a connecting strap 2 are inserted and returned upon themselves and riveted.

3, 3 designate two end straps extending outwardly in opposite directions from the connecting strap 2 and having one of their ends passed around an opposite side of the link and riveted.

4, 4 designate two side straps that are connected at one end in a similar manner to the links 1, 1, and 5, 5 designate two opposite straps that are similarly attached to the links.

The top section B likewise comprises two rectangular links 6, 6, a connecting strap 7 that has its ends passed around and riveted or otherwise secured to the links, and short end straps S, S, and two pairs of side straps 9, 9 and 10, 10, each of said end straps and side straps being provided at its outer ex tremity with a buckle 11.

In the practical application of my improved fastener, the trunk or box to be fastened is placed upon the bottom section A with the latter in a spread out condition, the top section B is then placed upon that side of the trunk or box which is uppermost, and the straps 3, 3 are inserted through the buckles 11 of the straps S, 8, and the side straps of the top and bottom sections are similarly secured together. It will thus be seen that the trunk or the like may be very quickly and securely strapped, and without the necessity of lifting one or more corners as the strapping operation is being performed, thereby avoiding a tiresome and disagreeable incident common to the ordinary strapping of a trunk or box. It is manifest that the operation of strapping the two sections together may be proceeded with in any desired manner. For instance, one side of the top section may be buckled to the bottom section preparatory to binding the device around the trunk or box to be strapped. It is also to be understood that the various straps may be made of diffcrent weights, thicknesses and lengths, according to the especial requirements of the case, or as judgment may dictate.

In order to protect the straps at the corners or edges of the trunk or box, I provide a protecting device 12 which is preferably a metal casting or the like and which embodies two angularly disposed members adapted to take over the edge of the receptacle, each of said members being formed with inturned flanges 12 that provide a casing for the pas- I take around the strap at the corners of the 10 sage therethrough of the strap. Each proi rece tacle, the corners of said protector being tector is thickened at its corner as shown. thic rened, as and for the purpose set forth.

Having thus described the invention, what In testimony whereof l afiix my signature 3 is claimed as new is: in presence of two witnesses.

In a fastener for trunks or similar recepta- THOMAS W. MADDUX. cles, a strap protector consisting of two angu- Witnesses: larly disposed members each of which is GEO. L. LowERY, formed with inturned flanges adapted to J. W. RAMSEY. 

